Journey of the Three Failures

Chapter 9: Of Lupines and Lycans

Journey of the Three Failures

Nine: Of Lupines and Lycans

Hinata ヒナタ

The words that were stammered out in reply to the bold demand came off sounding more like a confused question than anything – which I guess wasn't too bad, considering I was trying my best not to pass out as I sat there on my hands and knees staring up at the wolf made of fire towering menacingly in front of me.

"A-ano, ah... m-m-me...?"

At this squeak, the beast looked down to notice by chance an insignificant little flea at its feet.

"You've got to be kidding me."

That kind of stung.

I gulped, trying to get to my feet. This 'Grand Ookami Kurogiba' wouldn't hurt me – he was apparently the son of Gobi, right? The Gobi and I had an agreement, and we were on good terms, right? So it wasn't like I was in any danger here ... right? But my arms and legs were leaden with weakness as well as fear, and I had only half-risen when I fell again to my knees.

The wolf began growling at my attempt. "Rrrr... You're serious? You're the human we're supposed to be working with?"

"I – I am. I am Hyuuga Hinata," I said, struggling just to keep from trembling under his eerie, drilling gaze.

"So I, the Fifth Grand Ookami, am supposed to help you, a scrawny excuse for a koinu who could only just barely manage to summon me in this size?" He had grown closer as he spoke, so that his snout was right in my face and his seething eyes, slits of dark fire containing a shimmering crimson splash of iris and a soul-stabbing glimmer of silver as a pupil, were inches from my own. Vicious teeth, which like his claws were flames simply a darker black than the majority of his body, were bared in fury.

H-he hates me ... but why? I tried again, and this time succeeded in standing up. "U-um..." It was hard to talk with him glaring so intensely! "K-Kurogiba-sama..."

He blasted a roar in my face, and I shrieked and fell onto my backside.

"Kuso!" he cursed, storming past me. "Is this a joke? I can hear them laughing already, the whole filthy lot of them! Kuso, why me?! Why am I the one to get stuck with this, this..." He looked back at me to see me looking back at him, growled in frustration, and continued on his way.

My teeth clenched, and something certain clicked inside me – and I realized I didn't want to be dismissed that simply.

I body flickered.

"Kurogiba!" I shouted, barring his path. Even if putting myself in the angry fire wolf's way didn't seem like the healthiest idea, I didn't care right now. "What do you have against me?"

A low growl escaped him. "Out of the way, scrawny koinu..."

My hand was brought to the hitai-ate at my neck. "I am Hyuuga Hinata, a kunoichi of the Village Hidden in Leaves and the Hyuuga Clan's rightful heiress! I will be a great ninja someday! I'm not about to sit by while you make conclusions and write me off as a weakling!"

"Heh... What should I care? Even as you spout these things your hands tremble in fear. What reason do I have to accept you? You're terrified of me. You're a puny runt. And..." He trailed off as he seemed to notice something, and I tried not to fidget as he gazed intently. His eyes narrowed in a few moments. "And your arm..."

"I-it's ... a severe d-disability, but–,"

"You're a cripple."

It was as if I'd been slapped. You...!